Custom Mouth Guards: Insurance For Your Smile

February 1, 2015

Accidents happen. Emergencies are a part of life, and you never know what to expect when you walk out your door in the morning. You can go through life expecting everything to always work out in your favor, but sometimes they don’t.

Now, why would we say all of that? Not to be pessimistic but to remind you that sometimes you need to take care of a problem before it begins.

We see athletes all the time here in the office, and we ask them if they are wearing a mouthguard. We hear a lot of our patients saying, “No, I’ll be fine.” Or, “I’ve been fine this long!”

Those are dangerous words. We recommend mouthguards to all of our patients who participate in athletics of any kind. It is a good idea to know what’s available to you so that you can make the best choice for your smile.

Types of Mouthguards on the Market

There are three main types of mouthguards available to you. It is important to weigh the benefits and consequences of each type so that you really know what you’re purchasing. There’s no point in buying an insurance policy that won’t protect you, after all!

Stock: A stock mouthguard is the cheapest and most readily available. You can get a stock mouthguard at just about any type of store. They are made of thick plastic and come in a very limited number of sizes, if they have sizes at all.

While the idea of protection is there, these mouthguards are not very helpful when you are on the field. There is no way to make the guard fit your teeth, so you end up with a mouth full of plastic that won’t stay in place on your teeth. It’s difficult to breathe and speak.

Boil and Bite: The next step up is a boil and bite mouthguard. This type of mouthguard is slightly better for your smile because it gives you an opportunity to create the impression of your teeth in the plastic (through the boil and bite method).

The problem is that this guard is still too much plastic! The bulky feel of the guard keeps you from being able to participate fully in your athletic activities. We would recommend something like this as a backup and nothing else.

Custom Guard: Our top recommendation for a protective mouthguard is a custom mouthguard that we can help you with right here in the office! Depending on the type of activity you participate in, we will select a guard that is right for you. We offer mouthguards in a couple of different sizes to help you get the protection you need while still being comfortable.

We begin by taking impressions of your teeth. The guard is made to fit those impressions so that every time you slip your mouthguard in place, it will fit perfectly and stay where it’s supposed to stay! This makes breathing and communicating with those around you MUCH easier!

The Insurance Policy for Your Teeth

We view a mouthguard as an insurance policy for your teeth. You have it there at all times because you never know when you’re going to need it! You should wear your guard whenever you are practicing, competing, or just having fun!

That guard can protect you from thousands of dollars in dental care and a lot of pain. All it takes is one accident. One tumble off your bike. One elbow to the jaw. One missed ball to change your smile forever. Protect yourself with a custom mouthguard.

Who Qualifies as an Athlete?

So, who needs to wear a mouthguard? Anyone participating in physical activity! Everything from high contact sports like football to low contact sports like baseball to routine exercise like biking.

If you aren’t sure, give us a call and let us help you decide! We can go ahead and take your impressions so that you can have your custom mouthguard in place before your next event!

Patient Testimonials

Make an Appointment Today!

Please feel free to browse our website to get to know our practice better, learn more about our services, and find out how we can help you. You can also find our office hours, location, map, patient forms and other useful information on this website. Call 413-241-3995 now to make an appointment or use our online form to schedule a consultation. We look forward to meeting you!

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